Dale Poepping

Dale Poepping, 61, of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 19 with all of us sleeping around him. He fought the hard battle against lung cancer for 13 months.

A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, October 26 at River of Life Church in Sauk Centre with Pastor Kyle Peterson officiating. A private inurnment will be held at a later date. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at River of Life Church in Sauk Centre. 

Dale was born April 23, 1963 to Gilbert and Rosie Poepping in Sauk Centre. He grew up on the family farm in West Union where his love of farming was born. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School. He married Lisa Petermeier on July 27, 1985 at St Paul’s in Sauk.

Dale was a devoted hard worker his entire life. He worked various jobs at McDonald’s, Fingerhut, and Landwehr throughout the years. He wore many hats while working at the Red Carpet in Sauk Centre for his mother-in-law Dorothy. He took such pride in driving bus for Sauk Centre schools. He drove to countless away games for various SC teams but especially loved his time driving the girls volleyball team.

Farming and his black angus beef was his absolute passion. He called his office the 4-wheeler or side by side in the middle of his herd of cows.

Dale was a patient dad. He was a dedicated dad. He taught his kids how to work hard. He was always Mr. Fix It and taught them how to do it. He loved being the helpful dad. He never missed a game for his kids or an activity for his grandkids. He loved his family deeply. His grandkids had him wrapped around his finger. They were always the first to get a bite of his ice cream or a handful of his M&Ms.

Dale was one of the most competitive people you’d ever meet! Just ask his softball opponents. He played slow pitch softball for decades and had such a close-knit bond with his team, The Playboys. He and Lisa enjoyed traveling not only for softball tournaments but also for bowling. He definitely hit a few home runs and threw a few turkeys in his career! In the last several years he & the softball guys moved their competitions to the golf course. They loved their Friday nights together in Osakis. 

We have countless memories and so many videos of him playing pranks. He was such a jokester and he totally knew it! He pulled a lot pranks and got it all right back at him! One of his favorite things to do with Lisa was creating these crazy fun scavenger hunts for his adult kids & spouses on Christmas and sometimes Easter. They created unique clues for each of us to find our gift or card. Comical, fun, and the competitiveness runs deep so it was always a welcome challenge!

If you knew Dale, you knew his 1993 Chevy Silverado. He bought it brand new and drove it for the rest of his life. He had a love for cars, keeping them pristine and restoring some classics. He bought his first car at 16 which was a 1975 Plymouth Road Runner. He restored it 25 years later and loved showing it off at car shows. He was even featured in the Mopar Collector’s Guide for it! It still sits in pristine condition in the family garage. He also restored a 1970 yellow Ford Mustang and a cherry red 1970 Monte Carlo. He also showed off at a car show or two.

Dale faced so many challenges in the last year. He had the most amazing prayer warriors surrounding him through it all. He found comfort and joy in his new church family at River of Life Church. Even in his most challenging times, he rallied to get to church when he could. He never gave up. He fought harder than any of us even realize. His stubbornness kept him here on earth longer than most would have made it. 

He was and is and always will be so deeply loved. He will be missed by so many. He will be remembered as a favorite bus driver. He will be remembered as a farmer. He will be remembered by some as Toga, Tights, Tighty Boy, Schwanky. He will be remembered as Dad. His most favorite title that he will be remembered as is Papa.

Until we meet again. We love you.

Survivors include his loving wife of 39 years, Lisa Poepping of Sauk Centre; children, Casey (Amy) Poepping, Charnell (Matt) Laven, and Karlee Poepping; six grandchildren, Chase, Audra, and Amelia Poepping and Charlotte, Shae, and Brooks Laven; mother, Rosie Poepping; brothers, Dennis (Patty Jordan), Jeff (Jolene), and Jim (Kristine); sisters, Lori (Kevin Pearson) Poepping and Lisa (Joel) Arceneau; sister-in-law, Cathy Poepping; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and a great group of dear friends. 

Dale was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Poepping on May 20, 2017; and best friend, Larry Sorenson.